-Emile
Durkheim was born April 15, 1858 in Epinal, Lorraime to Moise and Melanie Durkheim. Moise, a third generation Rabbi influenced
Emile to start a career in the Rabbinate, however, his enthusiasam dwindled upon entering high school.

-Durkheim retained his strong Jewish ties and
the Jewish upbringing remained a strong influence in his life. He remained close to the Jewish community even when not actively
participating in the religious aspects of Judaism.

-Durkheim excelled at the College d’Epinal
where he graduated with a bachelors of letters and sciences in 1874 and 1875 respectively. It was at this point in his life
that he decided he wanted to become a teacher.

-To prepare for post graduate studies at the prestigious
Ecole Normale Superiure in Paris, France, Durkheim studied extensive Latin and rhetoric while trying to take care of his sick
father and his family welfare. After failing the admissions exam twice, he was finally admitted in 1879.

-In 1882 Durkheim passed the aggregation, an exam
required for school teachers.

-An initiative for a more secular and republican
education prompted the Letters at Bordeaux to begin a course in pedagogy. Durkheim, being interested in the teaching of a
secular and scientific “French morality,” was given the job of teaching the “Science Sociale,” which
was the first sociology class in the French education system.

-Durkheim used this opportunity to express his
strong beliefs in sociology as a social science, rather than the predominate humanist sciences such as, philosophy, history,
and law.

-Critics worried that this new social science
was risking the ideals based in, “Free will and moral agency.” However, this contributed to recognition and more
publicity of his works as a sociologist.

-Durkheim
published the first sociological journal in 1898 and remained active in education and sociological studies.

-Most of his career, Durkheim fought the conventionality
of the day and was often opposed for his social scientific study of morality and religion.

-In addition, he worked hard during WWI to undermine
the German war effort, and was yet again criticized by his fellow countrymen for his work, and for his Jewish ancestry.

-When his son died in the war, Durkheim became
emotionally distraught. His work on the war also was taking its toll on his health.